Aizen Myōō
1300–1392
- Medium
- Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk
- Dimensions
- Painting: 102 x 60.5 cm (40 3/16 x 23 13/16 in.); Mounted: 183.2 x 80.3 cm (72 1/8 x 31 5/8 in.)
- Genre
- Painting
- Museum
- Cleveland Museum of Art
Styles
Tags
Japan, Kamakura period (1185–1333) to Nanbokuchō period (1336–92)
About
Aizen Myōō is the Wisdom King of Passion. He is one of the Five Great Wisdom Kings who protect the Five Wisdom Buddhas. Each of these Buddhas represents one of the five types of wisdom characterizing a mind purified of disturbing emotions, such as desire, fear, and anger. Aizen’s body is red, and he has six arms. He has a flaming mandorla, or body halo, and sits upon a lotus supported by a vase from which flaming, wish-fulfilling jewels flow freely.